When I was very young (I think 4 maybe) I was admitted in, what was then called the 7th day hospital (its now called Karachi Adventist Hospital). The hospital is located right across Prince Cinema (is the cinema still there?). Prince Cinema was the first mini Cineplex of Karachi and had two theatres located in one facilty. The Grand Prince Cinema and the mini Princess theater. Bandar Road is now known as M A Jinnah Road.
My private ward (room)'s window was facing the main Bandar Road. Those were the last days of tram service that used to run back and forth on Bandar Road. In the morning I used to sit on my bed, my mom feeding me breakfast and I used to watch the busy life down the street and always used to wonder how it feels like to be a tram driver. It was quite facinating.
**Lets discuss in this thread, your memories/observation of Bandar Road. Be it Capri Cinema, Radio Pakistan, Khori Garden, Urdu Bazar or wahatever. **
BTW, for people who dont know, it was called Bandar Road cause it goes all the way to Karachi Sea Port (Bandar’gah), hence the name. I dont want you to think that there were Monkey’s jumping up and down on that street.
*Lets discuss in this thread, your memories/observation of Bandar Road. Be it Capri Cinema, Radio Pakistan, Khori Garden, Urdu Bazar or wahatever. *
Kia yaad dila di Radio Pakistan aur Bandar Road ki. :(
Have lots of happy memories of Radio Pakistan. My uncle used to work there and took me and my sister to the recording studios regularly, where we met and saw artists such Mehdi Hassan, and Noor Jahan recording their songs. I also remember the late Muni Baji taking me to the famous Radio Pakistan canteen and buying me that famous Radio Pakistan keema pastries. Yes, I was taller than Munni Baji, even at the age of seven. :)
I remember going to and watching movies at Nishat, Capri, and Prince Cinemas. The huge crowds as they pushed and shoved each other to get to the ticket booth, and the fights the ensued between some of the cinema goers that tried to push in front of each other. :)
I remember going to and watching movies at Nishat, Capri, and Prince Cinemas. The huge crowds as they pushed and shoved each other to get to the ticket booth, and the fights the ensued between some of the cinema goers that tried to push in front of each other. :)
and those Makranis with dandas in their hands for the crowd control :D
Your memories about Radio Pakistan are very interesting. Muni Baji was a true artiste. I remember listening to Hasan Shaheed Mirza's shows and also Azeem Sarwar and Sajida Sayed with Ather Shah Khan in Mr Jedi show. Radio was awesome in late 70's.
I don’t know exact location either but it was near to those Nishat and Capri cinemas.
I think this will be unjust if we don’t post this classic by Ahmed Rushdi in this thread.
and those Makranis with dandas in their hands for the crowd control :D
Your memories about Radio Pakistan are very interesting. Muni Baji was a true artiste. I remember listening to Hasan Shaheed Mirza's shows and also Azeem Sarwar and Sajida Sayed with Ather Shah Khan in Mr Jedi show. Radio was awesome in late 70's.
Hahaha. Don't know why they bothered with trying to control the crowd. It was a waste of time. :D
Yes, Radio was indeed awesome in those days, and Azeem Sarwar is indeed one of the greats of Pakistan Radio.
I remember my older family members listening to Munni Baji, Studio Number Nau (9) Drama at night and Hamid Mian Ke Haan on Sunday morning.
Urdu Bazar was a great place for books and the photocopier could give you tips for taking any foreign exam! Many people owe a lot to those phocopier people who could give anything you want, questons, answers, popular books to read etc.
Civil hospital is not too far and now its a university I hear.
Cinemas were awsome. Aircondition in hot summer days was a blessing and so were soda water sales person making a jingle music with bottle opener running across glass bottles during interval.
A woman after watching sad Pakistani movie would say to other:
"Arey Bahan Kitni Acchi film thi. Main to itna Roi Ke Munnay ke Abba Ko Fanta Delani Pari!" :-)
Keemari I think was very different than it is now. I heard little boys (expert swimmers) used to go under muddy water to pick a falling coin in the water from crowded boat which would take passengers to Manora and passengers would clap for the stunt.